The Critical Christmas Bicycle Ride will roll around Monterey once again on December 21, 2014.

The Critical Christmas Bicycle Ride started many years ago as a cross between “Critical Mass” and that goofy event in Ukiah involving semi-trucks festooned with hundreds of Christmas bulbs. The goals of Critical Christmas are to get out for a little fun (and family) exercise during the Christmas season, and (this is the really important part) ride a bike with as many battery powered LED Christmas lights as can be duct taped in place.

Critical Christmas is not a race, but it is a family event, so bring the kiddies, bring the duct tape, bring the batteries, bring the lights, bring more lights and if that’s not enough lights bring more.

The event rolls out of the Custom House Plaza fountain area at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 21, 2014 (rain will cancel). We have no predetermined route, so whatever happens, happens. The only knows part of the route is that we will do hot laps around the fountain…probably in two directions.

The event is Sunday, December 21, 2014 and is free to all riders. Expect to roll out at 6:00PM. Custom House Plaza is located at the water’s edge at the foot of Alvarado Street and not too far from Fisherman’s Wharf.

Go to Facebook and search for “Critical Christmas” to get more information. Rain will cancel. This is a free event.

We will be serving wild salmon and an additional meat. Nonalcoholic beverage provided. Bring a bottle of wine or 6 pack of beer to share. A donation container will be available at the BAR …proceeds to go to charity.

As has been the tradition for several years there will also be a FOOD BANK barrel.

The moment has arrived. The Champion System Direct Ordering Account has been set up. Attached you will find a tutorial on how to set up your own sub account and place your order. ORDERING BEGINS SUNDAY, OCTOBER12 AND ENDS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31!!!! After that time, there will be no opportunity to place an order for a long time so get it done now. All orders will be individually packaged but sent to Robin Harness for distribution to save on shipping costs. If you are not in the Monterey area and need your order shipped to you, please contact me & we will make arrangements for payment of the shipping cost. Production of our order will begin after the order window closes on 10/31 and will take SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS to be completed. So don’t expect your order to get here before the end of December. Sometimes we do get our order earlier than expected but there are no guarantees that will happen.

The 8:30 Sat. ride is going to be doing a pie ride on August 16th – car week. Those who want to do the longer ride will be meeting at the normal 7:30 start place – but the start will be at 8:00 AM (I believe that’s the anchor).

Those that want a bit of a shorter ride will be starting from Pezzini’s at 9AM. There will be two return routes for those that prefer not returning on Hwy 1.

The Alto Velo Racing Club and Alto Velo Elite Racing Team to Host Twilight Cycling Ride August 12

Free BBQ to be Provided for Participants

MONTEREY, Calif., July 28, 2014 – Twilight Cycling, presented by Rabobank, will be held August 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. during Monterey’s Classic Car Week, just prior to the start of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The paddock will be full of vintage race cars and their drivers may even join in on the fun.

The evening is hosted by the Alto Velo Racing Club, which was founded in 1992 and has over 200 members, and the club’s Alto Velo Elite Racing Team (AVERT), a program designed to foster team racing and racer progression from the Cat 4 to Cat 1 levels.

The popular local cycling club will hold a gravity race from the top of the Corkscrew starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be a modern “aero” division and a classic “non-aero, non-carbon” division. Prizes will go to the winner (longest coasting distance) and most stylish bike (judge’s discretion) in each division. This will be followed by a five lap circuit race starting at 6:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded following the races.

The evening concludes with a free BBQ, offering the ideal way to unwind after challenging the 2.238-mile world-class road circuit.

“This is a rare opportunity to ride your bike on one of the world’s most famous racing circuits,” says Mike Reed, general manager of AVERT. “No cars, but pure excitement!”

The monthly cycling sessions provide a wonderful way to meet fellow cyclists and perhaps engage in some friendly competition. The evenings are open to all ages and levels and costs only $10 per person. Helmets are required. Twilight Cycling participants should follow the signs to the Red 9 parking lot and then proceed over the start/finish bridge.

Join us on October 3, 2014 for a 200K Team/Individual Challenge Ride, a supported, non-competitive endurance cycling event.

Ride the beautiful landscape between Paso Robles and Monterey on a route that rides past Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento through charming Lockwood. Enjoy lunch in San Lorenzo Park, then take scenic E. Carmel Valley Rd and be welcomed by a sumptuous dinner in Monterey.

Proceeds of The EPiC Challenge will benefit Rotary’s Polio Plus® in its work to eradicate polio globally and to take on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Challenge. The Gates Foundation is matching the funds we raise 2:1.

Join us for the 2014 VCM Summer Ride and Picnic!Sunday, August 24th at Carmel Valley Community Park.
Drive past Ford road, take the next left into the parking area.

THE RIDE: There will be an ARROYO SECO Loop ride, starting at the Carmel Valley Community Park (east) parking lot at 07:00. It is a 87 mile difficult course…so judge your fitness carefully or do some training…..it’s a great ride if you have been cycling faithfully. It is not sagged so you will need to carry your food and water supply. There are a couple of places to resupply h20. If you have any question feel free to email Vera Noghera at <vnoghera@gmail.com> or call 831-596-0705.

THE PICNIC: At Carmel Valley Community ParkEast end of the park on Carmel Valley road.

VCM will provide barbecued burgers, sausages, hot dogs and the fixings, as well as coolers/ice, plates and utensils and non-alcoholic beverages.(Bring your own spirits!)

My name is Debbie Brubaker, tour director of the California Bicycle Coalition’s inaugural California By Bike “Surf N Turf” tour. I would like to personally invite you and your members to attend our fantastic five-day tour from Santa Barbara to San Diego this fall.

This epic coastal adventure is a fully supported ride beginning on October 31, 2014, at the beautiful Fess Parker resort located on the beachfront in Santa Barbara, and includes all hotel accommodations, meals, full rest stops, SAG and mechanic support, and a commemorative jersey. Our riders will pedal along parts of the Amgen route from Santa Barbara to Ventura and world-class coastline of southern California. Opportunities abound to explore unique and trendy sections of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego counties. Our inaugural Surf ‘N Turf tour will end in San Diego on Wednesday, November 5th. As leaders in California’s bike movement, our riders will have an opportunity to meet community leaders and superstars in the cycling world at our special dinner event on the Queen Mary in the Long Beach harbor.

CalBike’s mission is to enable more people to bicycle for the health, safety and prosperity of all Californians. With your help, we will be able to attain our goal of doubling the amount of cycling in the Golden State by 2017 and tripling it by 2020. All proceeds from our tour will support our educational fund for both the Better Bikeways campaign and the Three Feet for Safety Act going into effect in September 2014.

Participants will have the option of fundraising through our interactive fundraising page with a $100.00 registration fee or purchasing a spot outright for $2150.00.

We at CalBike would be most appreciative if you would take a moment to help us promote our inaugural tour. Working together, we can continue to create robust bicycle networks, mainstream bicycling, protect people who ride, and grow the advocacy movement throughout California.

Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions or would like me to provide you with some copy for your use. Thank you in advance for your help!